49ers' Kaepernick fueled by social media critics

SANTA CLARA -- Colin Kaepernick is under social-media fire, apparently to his motivational delight, after enduring back-to-back losses for the first time as the 49ers starting quarterback.

Kaepernick has "favorited" bitter tweets condemning his struggles after blowout losses to the Seattle Seahawks and Indianapolis Colts.

"It's something that I do for me. It helps me," the quarterback said Tuesday as he prepared for the 49ers' game Thursday night at St. Louis.

That bulletin-board, er, Twitter-post material includes such posts as:

"@Kaepernick7 is absolute garbage #StartColtMcCoy"

"@49ers @Kaepernick7 is like a one hit song but for him a one hit season he needs to be benched or traded."

"It's simple, @Kaepernick7 is just not smart enough to be an NFL QB #9ers Suck."

"We Want Alex smith back!!"

Getting the offense back to a productive, precision state is a goal Kaepernick shares with running back Frank Gore, who disputed the notion he yelled at coach Jim Harbaugh late in Sunday's 27-7 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.

"Kaepernick can make all the plays with his feet and his arm," Finnegan said on a media conference call. "With the addition of Anquan Boldin, it's still a high-power offense."

The 49ers racked up 34 points and 494 yards of offense in their opening win over the Green Bay Packers. In ensuing blowout losses to the Seahawks and Colts, they've totaled 10 points and 461 yards.

Kaepernick had just 13 completions each of those defeats, the same number he produced to Anquan Boldin alone in the season opener.

"Everybody knows that we have to get better. We're 1-2 for a reason," Kaepernick said. "I'm not going to call out anybody. I'm going to look at myself before I look at anyone else."

While Kaepernick's completion percentage came in under 50 percent in each defeat, he's accounted for six turnovers and no touchdowns. The only other game in his 13 career starts where he didn't pass or run for a touchdown: last December's overtime loss at St. Louis, which happens to be the 49ers' next stop.

What does he recall from that last visit to St. Louis? "I remember losing. That's all I remember about that game really," Kaepernick answered.

Offensive coordinator Greg Roman said Kaepernick is "doing fine" and "working hard" as usual in the wake of the two-game losing streak.

"Every time you go through a dry spell like this, every guy needs to see what they can do better, and that starts with me," Roman said.

Added Gore: "We've just got to get back to us, and being one. We'll be fine. We feel we can do whatever we want, like before."

With Nnamdi Asomugha not practicing because of a right-knee injury, the 49ers promoted rookie cornerback Darryl Morris from the practice squad.

Linebacker Patrick Willis (groin) did not practice but hasn't been ruled out for Thursday.

Unlike in most road games, the 49ers will wear red home jerseys, while the Rams don all white uniforms.

Dan Skuta is slated to start at outside linebacker in place of Aldon Smith, and that could mean pairing with Justin Smith on stunts. "I'd like to do that stuff," Skuta said. "I think I'd fit in and do the same type of thing."

Linebacker D'Aundre Reed, a 2011 seventh-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings, was signed to the practice squad.